A tufting machine for selectively forming tufts of yarns, including different color or type yarns, for forming patterned tufted articles such as carpets. A series of needles are reciprocated into and out of a backing material being fed through the tufting machine and are engaged by a series of gauge parts so as to pick-up loops of yarns from the needles. The gauge parts will be selectively controlled by activators to extend or retract the gauge parts to positions or elevations sufficient to pick-up or not pick-up loops of yarns from the needles. The feeding of the yarns to the needles further will be controlled to back-rob yarns not picked-up by the gauge parts, while the backing feed will be controlled to enable formation of tufts at an increased rate over the pattern stitch rate for the pattern of the tufted article being formed.

A backing feed is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing yarns wherein the needles are configured in consecutive gauge positions in alternate segments in front and rear transverse rows of needles, and the position of the needles is shiftable transversely with respect to the backing.

A backing feed is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing yarns wherein the needles are configured in consecutive gauge positions in alternate segments in front and rear transverse rows of needles, and the position of the needles is shiftable transversely with respect to the backing.

Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.

Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.

The invention concerns a yarn feed module for supplying yarn into a textile machine, including a drive roller for supplying the yarn, a guide element for guiding the yarn, and a restrain element that is arranged between the drive roller and the guide element in order to ensure that, on supplying of the yarn, the yarn detaches from the drive roller. The invention also concerns a textile machine including such a yarn feed module.

The invention concerns a yarn feed module for supplying yarn into a textile machine, including a drive roller for supplying the yarn, a guide element for guiding the yarn, and a restrain element that is arranged between the drive roller and the guide element in order to ensure that, on supplying of the yarn, the yarn detaches from the drive roller. The invention also concerns a textile machine including such a yarn feed module.

A yarn monitoring system for textile machines uses sensors to indicate yarn over-tensioning and breakage. The sensors within eyelets monitor the passage of the yarn and send raw signals to the controller. The eyelets, each with a sensor, are within a body containing a circuit board which is in constant communication with the sensors and software contained within a controller. The controller is in constant communication with the textile machine. The software contains an acceptable operational zone for raw signal data and control limits establishing the lowest raw signal data reading permitted for the yarn. The user establishes set points for the control limits, and reaching these set points is an indication over-tension or yarn breakage. To prevent unnecessary shut down of the machine, the software averages the raw signal data and, when the raw signal average remains out of the established set points, initiates communication to the textile machine.

A pattern data processing system configured to determine and compensate for any points of entanglement between different yarns. A point of entanglement is defined as a point where the yarn from one needle crosses and traps the yarn from another needle on the back face of the backing medium. The pattern data processing system is configured to calculate the additional length of back stich caused by each point of entanglement by subtracting an ideal back stich length, calculated as the path which would have been taken by the yarn had it not been entangled in another yarn, from an actual yarn path, calculated as the actual length of the entangled yarn. A controller is configured to include in the amount of yarn fed by a respective yarn feed mechanism for each stitch an amount equivalent to the additional length of back stitch. The invention also includes a tufting machine and method of operating the tufting machine with the pattern data processing system.

A pattern data processing system configured to determine and compensate for any points of entanglement between different yarns. A point of entanglement is defined as a point where the yarn from one needle crosses and traps the yarn from another needle on the back face of the backing medium. The pattern data processing system is configured to calculate the additional length of back stich caused by each point of entanglement by subtracting an ideal back stich length, calculated as the path which would have been taken by the yarn had it not been entangled in another yarn, from an actual yarn path, calculated as the actual length of the entangled yarn. A controller is configured to include in the amount of yarn fed by a respective yarn feed mechanism for each stitch an amount equivalent to the additional length of back stitch. The invention also includes a tufting machine and method of operating the tufting machine with the pattern data processing system.